NRNW Theater ‏@NRNWTheater 13mOh and btw, I heard Adam Lambert belt his face off in rehearsal and it was epicsauce. I wanted his boots. And his life. #bwaybares2013NRNW Theater ‏@NRNWTheater 5m@MalsDoxy Really? He belted "The Star Spangled Banner" so hard, I thought my manvagina exploded. I might be third trimester already."I started rejecting the proper way to sing and I started singing." ~Adam LambertADAM WITH JERRY MITCHELL Broadway Bares the annual fund-raising event created by Tony Award winner Jerry Mitchell (still riding high from his well-earned wins for the Broadway hit "Kinky Boots")

Broadway Bares It All Over the USA

by JC Alvarez

Monday Jun 24, 2013

Broadway Bares returned to Roseland for its 23rd installment.

New York City, Broadway. Hundreds of thousands of the world’s most talented artists descend on the Big Apple with dreams of making it on "The Great White Way." Landing a coveted position on one of the legendary stages along the most famous theater district in the world is many a chorus boy’s - and girl’s - greatest ambition. But there’s one tradition that generates almost as much excitement among the theater community as perhaps the annual Tony Awards.

Heralding the beginning of PRIDE Season Broadway Bares the annual fund-raising event created by Tony Award winner Jerry Mitchell (still riding high from his well-earned wins for the Broadway hit "Kinky Boots") that continues to support Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS is now in its 23rd year. To celebrate the occasion and especially all that is occurring around the country in our dedicated efforts to promote marriage-equality, this year’s event took on - or rather took off on a very patriotic motif.

Always delivering on the audiences’ anticipating expectations of the stage production which returned to the Roseland Ballroom on Sunday, June 23, this year’s program of Broadway Bares was dedicated to the 50 states (of undress) of the United States with a show entitled "The United Strips of America." Spotlighting more than 250 dancers in the company - all Broadway’s best - it featured appearances from "Kinky Boots" Tony winner Billy Porter, Alan Cumming, with pop-star Adam Lambert delivering a rousing rendition of the "Star-Spangled Banner."

Dancer Tony Guerrero in last year’s "Aladdin" number from Broadway Bares.

Baring It All

Dancer/choreographer Tony Guerrero, who had finished a run performing for the Metropolitan Opera, was among the returning participants to Broadway Bares this year. He appeared in the show’s ode to California.

The most challenging part of participating in Broadway Bares aren’t necessarily the intense rehearsals leading up to the two back-to-back staged performances, or the personal fund-raising effort. Nope - the hardest part is becoming part of that year’s company. There is a hierarchy that includes a number of years’ experience on Broadway, and concentrated ability to successfully gather donations. This was Guerrero’s fifth year performing.

"My very first summer in the city," Guerrero, a Houston, Texas transplant recalled, "I was still trying to figure things out." He took up an offer for a free ticket to Broadway Bares. "I remember just being blown away by the scale of it. I was just dazzled, and to look around the room and know that every person there represented a ticket bought - I was so moved that I knew I had to be a part of Broadway Bares one day. "

Guerrero made the rounds, established himself, and before long participated in his first Broadway Bares event including "Solo Strips" - an intimate, smaller-scale, burlesque version which recalls the feel of Jerry Mitchell’s very first show.When dancers make the cut and are invited to participate in the show it becomes crunch time! "There’s an orientation meeting," Guerrero describes. "Jerry speaks and the choreographers introduce themselves." Hopefuls must fill out an extensive questionnaire that lists their dance skills and specialties. "And then it becomes like trading baseball cards." The choreographers negotiate for the cast based on a dancer’s look, experience and skill set as it pertains to their assigned act.

Putting It On

The duty of directing this year’s show passed on to the ample shoulders of Nick Kenkel, long-time choreographer and protege of Mitchell’s. Kenkel has been a long-standing presence and participant in Broadway Bares’ success, including having choreographed sets for the Vegas version."Nick has brought a fresh, new take directing the show this year," says Guerrero. "My favorite part is the first run through with everyone in the studio," he said. "It’s the very first time that everyone gets to see each other’s numbers. It’s the most supportive environment - it’s explosive." For the finale of Broadway Bares, the entire company appears on stage for the final number leading into "Rotation."

Explosive is one way to describe the 23rd Annual Broadway Bares that wowed the crowd on Sunday night. There was some "Harlem Shaking" going in Georgia, a Chicago speakeasy came under fire, New York City was definitely in vogue, and they do really grow it big down in Texas. "It’s overwhelming," said Guerrero, "when you look at the entire cast on that stage."

Stand-out moments, including the California number Guerrero appeared in, also included the drumbeats set off from Nebraska, and the cowboy frenzy of the aforementioned Texas number which included in its cast the very hunky Patrick Boyd who creatively contributed to this year’s most talked-about show on Broadway, "Pippin." Boyd had this to offer about last night’s performance: "The event itself is hard work and great fun, but there were times I was completely emotional last night when I stepped back to absorb it all. Nowhere do you have the sense of community and family than when participating in a Broadway Bares event - it’s the most important thing I can do to help those living with HIV/AIDS"

Rotation is still one of the evening’s most anticipated moments.

Great Care & Dedication

After incredibly show-stopping performances and more burlesque beauties among the beefcake than ever before - this year’s Broadway Bares did justice to showcasing as many of the ladies as it has always its cast of muscled male dancers - Broadway Bares creator/executive producer Jerry Mitchell emotionally thanked the cast, and commemorated them on their dedication and efforts to support Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS.

Actress Judith Light, herself a Tony Award winner this season, and Bravo television personality Andy Cohen passed out the awards to the cast members and teams who raised the most donations through their fund-raising efforts. At show’s end the tally was still coming in but it appeared that Year 23 was preparing to break another record, raising a speculated $1.5 million from last year’s milestone of $1.2 million. Nick Kenkel, the show’s director, thanked his mentor Jerry Mitchell and his "new family" the incredible cast of dancers who made it happen - among Tony Guerrero and Patrick Boyd - two additional names in a sea of 200 who bare it all, mostly their hearts in support of an effort to keep love alive.

Native New Yorker JC Alvarez is a pop-culture enthusiast and the nightlife chronicler of the club scene and its celebrity denizens from coast-to-coast. He is the on-air host of the nationally syndicated radio show "Out Loud & Live!" and is also on the panel of the local-access talk show "Talking About".

BROADWAY BARES 23: UNITED STRIPS OF AMERICA Heats Up and Gets Down at the Roseland Ballroom Tonight!

From sea to shining sea, this year's BROADWAY BARES will crisscross the country in a racy, raucous road trip, exploring the United States as the 23rd annual edition of the immensely popular modern-day burlesque show delivers BROADWAY BARES 23: UNITED STRIPS OF AMERICA. Produced by and benefiting Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, BROADWAY BARES 23 will arrive tonight, June 23, for two performances only - at 9:30 PM & Midnight - at Roseland Ballroom (239 West 52nd Street, NYC).

For this year's theme, BROADWAY BARES 23: UNITED STRIPS OF AMERICA, more than 200 of New York's sexiest and most desirable dancers will discover - and uncover - amber waves and mountain majesties that only BROADWAY BARES could find. This trip across the fruited plains of America will most certainly be the stuff patriot dreams are made of.

BROADWAY BARES combines the naughtiness of burlesque with the razzle-dazzle of Broadway and has been a smashing success since its inception in 1992. The event, featuring the hottest male and female dancers on Broadway, has become one of BC/EFA's signature events. The first Broadway Bares featured just seven dancers performing choreographed stripteases on a bar and raised more than $8,000. Through 22 editions, BROADWAY BARES has raised more than $9.8 million for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS.

BROADWAY BARES was created by Tony Award-winner Jerry Mitchell (Kinky Boots), who also serves as executive producer. It is produced by BroadwayCares/Equity Fights AIDS, led by Producing Director Michael Graziano . This year's edition is directed by Nick Kenkel (Catch Me If You Can, Peepshow, Legally Blonde).

Broadway Bares 23: United Strips of America

From sea to shining sea, this year's Broadway Bares will crisscross the country in a racy, raucous road trip, exploring the United States as the 23rd annual edition of the immensely popular modern-day burlesque show deliversBroadway Bares 23: United Strips of America.

More than 200 of New York's sexiest and most desirable dancers will discover – and uncover – amber waves and mountain majesties that only Broadway Barescould find. This trip across the fruited plains of America will most certainly be the stuff patriot dreams are made of.

In this year's show, a bi-coastal couple will set out on separate, sexy journeys through a dozen states – encountering scantily clad inhabitants along the way – in hopes of reuniting in the heartland. Broadway's Max von Essen and Michael Cusumano will appear throughout the show as the couple. Guest stars include two-time Tony nominee Christopher Sieber, 2013 Tony nominee Charl Brown, Lesli Margherita, Kate Rockwell and Eric LaJuan Summers.

Broadway Bares combines the naughtiness of burlesque with the razzle-dazzle of Broadway and has been a smashing success since its inception in 1992. The always sold-out event, featuring the hottest male and female dancers on Broadway, has become one of BC/EFA's signature events. The first Broadway Bares featured just seven dancers performing choreographed stripteases on a bar and raised more than $8,000. Through 22 editions, Broadway Bares has raised more than $9.8 million for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS.

Prices for Broadway Bares 23 ranged from $65-$750. VIP tickets included open bar and special viewing areas. The exclusive "Stripper Spectacular" package, which included a reserved table seat at either show, admission to a private cocktail party with Broadway Bares creator Jerry Mitchell, a backstage tour and more, is also sold out.

Broadway Bares was created by Mitchell, a Tony Award-winning director and choreographer who also serves as executive producer. This year's edition is directed by Nick Kenkel. It is produced by and benefits Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS.

Last year's Broadway Bares XXII: Happy Endings raised a record-breaking $1,254,176, the highest total of any edition of Bares. The first Broadway Baresfeatured seven dancers stripping on a bar and raised more than $8,000. To date, the 22 editions of Broadway Bares have raised more than $9.8 million for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS.

The presenting sponsor of Broadway Bares is M•A•C VIVA Glam, with generous support from BC/EFA corporate partner United Airlines.

With this year's record total, the 23 editions of BROADWAY BARES have now raised more than $11.3 million for Broadway Cares. Last year's 22nd edition of BROADWAY BARES raised $1,254,176. BROADWAY BARES started in 1992 and featured seven dancers stripping on a bar, raising about $8,000.

This year's edition of BROADWAY BARES was directed by Nick Kenkel (Catch Me If You Can, Peepshow, Legally Blonde).BROADWAY BARES was created by Tony Award-winning director and choreographer Jerry Mitchell (Kinky Boots) who serves as executive producer. It was produced by Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS led by Producing Director Michael Graziano.